Flashback to Vietnam as wolves snap at convoy
By Lindsay Murdoch, Herald Correspondent south of Najaf, central Iraq
March 27 2003
Highly mobile Republican Guard units are using hit-and-run tactics against
the massive convoy of United States forces pushing towards Baghdad, US
commanders say.
The units, using light armoured vehicles and rocket-propelled grenades, hit
the leading forces and retreat - copying methods used against the Americans
in Vietnam 30 years ago.
US claims that the Iraqi military is using civilians to lure Americans to
their deaths have also rekindled Vietnam memories.
The hit-and-run sorties have slowed the push of the 20,000-strong 1st
Marine Division, which on Tuesday was bogged down for 24 hours in a storm
that turned day into night.
"It's unbelievable ... you can't see your hand in front of you," said First
Sergeant Mike Sator. "Now I know what hell is like."
The marines could do nothing but sit in their vehicles until the storm
lifted yesterday morning. The sand had rendered their night vision
equipment - one of their biggest advantages over the Iraqis - virtually
useless. It also halted most strikes by US helicopters and fighter jets.
The Republican Guard units, believed to be only several hundred strong,
killed a Marine and wounded several others in a firefight in the desert
north of the Euphrates River on Monday.
They may also have been involved in a fight near the town of Najaf, about
150 kilometres south of Baghdad, on Tuesday night in which US commanders
said between 150 and 650 Iraqis had been killed.
The Marine artillery battalion the Herald is travelling with early
yesterday bombarded Iraqi T-72 tanks on the move about 30 kilometres north
of the battalion's position in Najaf province. Earlier barrages had
destroyed two Iraqi ammunition trucks.
The Marines, who were attempting to push north with thousands of tanks,
armoured vehicles and supply trucks, were yesterday preparing to move off
again, pulling bogged trucks out of ditches and refuelling.
They have new orders to treat Iraqi civilians, including women and
children, as hostile until proven otherwise.
Lieutenant-Colonel Gerry Smith, who is in charge of the artillery
battalions, told his marines by radio on Tuesday night that US intelligence
had reported Iraqi soldiers were using women and children to pose as
displaced families. When the family groups approached US troops, the
soldiers in their midst opened fire.
During the storm, marines were ordered to arrest and send for interrogation
any civilians found outside their homes.
Three men found in a vehicle were detained.
Marines have also been ordered to shoot civilians waving white flags if
they refuse to give up their weapons.
The convoy the Herald is with has now travelled more than half-way to
Baghdad since crossing the Kuwaiti border in the first hours of the war.
http://smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/26/1048653752423.html
